Phoebus, Stone Bridge Set for Showdown.......
ASHBURN, VA - With all due respect to Potomac and Hanover, the game to see in this year's Virginia AAA Division 5 state semifinals is in Ashburn this Saturday when the defending state champion Phoebus Phantoms (13-0) visit the Stone Bridge Bulldogs (12-1). This contest will showcase some of the top talent in the state, as each squad boasts numerous Division I-caliber players. These teams are also led by two of the most successful coaches in the state in Bill Dee (Phoebus) and Mickey Thompson (Stone Bridge). Here's a look at these teams as they get set to battle for the right to advance to the state championship game scheduled for Saturday, December 8 at noon at the University of Virginia's Scott Stadium in Charlottesville.
HEAD COACHES
Bill Dee owns an eye-popping 202-62 mark in his 23 seasons as head coach at Phoebus and has led his team to three of the last six AAA Division 5 state crowns (the Phantoms also won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002). He has taken Phoebus to seven straight region championship games, and his squad brings a 20-game winning streak to Ashburn.
Mickey Thompson has built the Stone Bridge program from the ground up and has a 77-19 record in the school's eight-year existence (including a stellar 35-4 mark in three seasons at the AAA level). The Bulldogs are playing in their fourth state semifinal game under Thompson and are looking to make it to their second state championship game (Stone Bridge fell to Hampton 15-8 in 2005). In his 18 years as a head coach, Thompson has led his teams to 14 playoff appearances, six region championships and two state runner-up finishes (1999 and 2005). Like Phoebus, the Bulldogs enter this Saturday on a roll, having won 11 straight.
OFFENSES
Stone Bridge - 40.5 ppg / 384.5 ypg
Phoebus - 36.8 ppg / 342.9 ypg)
They say offense wins you games and defense wins you championships, but the numbers Phoebus and Stone Bridge have been putting up this year make you wonder if this will be a high-scoring affair. Both teams have difference makers at nearly every skill position, and the numbers are almost equal.
Phoebus was fairly balanced through the regular season (195 yards rushing, 162 yards passing per game) but has proven in the playoffs that it can control the clock with a punishing ground game (the Phantoms have averaged 214 rushing yards and 80 passing yards in the postseason). In last week's 26-0 win over Indian River in the Eastern Region title game, the Phantoms ran 61 plays compared to 40 for the Braves and, not surprisingly, owned a huge advantage (31:34 to 16:26) in time of possession.
Stone Bridge has continued to expand its single wing attack this year, and excellent production from its passing game has forced teams to stay honest in defending both the ground and the air. The Bulldogs have excellent balance and depth across the board, and the development of junior quarterback Patrick Thompson over the course of the season has been impressive, especially considering he played tight end his first two years.
QUARTERBACKS
Phoebus junior quarterback Tajh Boyd, the Peninsula District Offensive Player of the Year, has completed 70 percent (117-of-165) of his passes for 1,879 yards and 22 touchdowns against just five interceptions. An efficient 21-of-27 for 239 yards and three TDs so far this postseason, he has received scholarship offers from Boston College, UVA and Virginia Tech, with several other schools likely to follow.
Patrick Thompson has proven he can run this intricate offense effectively. He has completed 62 percent (97-of-156) of his passes for 1,921 yards and a school-record 25 TDs against six interceptions, and he has added 159 yards and five TDs on the ground. In three playoff games this season, he is 26-of-40 (65 percent) for 581 yards and 8 TDs, and he has not thrown an interception. He is coming off an excellent game against Edison in the region championship game in which he finished 11-of-18 for 175 yards and three TDs.
RUNNING BACKS
Phoebus junior Shawne Alston has enjoyed a standout season after transferring from district foe Menchville this past summer, compiling 1,659 yards and 26 TDs despite battling a bad knee much of the year. In this year's playoffs alone, he has 495 yards and 6 TDs. He ran for a career-high 246 yards - including 210 and three TDs in the second half - in a 28-9 win over Warwick in the quarterfinals, and he followed that with a 27-carry, 104-yard effort in a 21-6 victory against Hampton in the region semifinals. Last week, he carried the ball a career-high 34 times for 145 yards and another three scores to lead Phoebus to a 26-0 shutout of Indian River in the region title game.
While Phoebus relies heavily on Alston, Stone Bridge's ground game features balance and depth with Kareem Alexander, Jeron Gouveia and Matt Irwin leading the way. Alexander has rushed 122 times for 896 yards (7.3 average) and 12 TDs, Gouveia, the Liberty District Offensive (and Defensive) Player of the Year, has carried 79 times for 715 yards (9.1) and a team-high 14 TDs and Irwin has added 41 carries for 443 yards (10.8) and 4 TDs. Daniel Allen, who missed the first eight games with an ankle sprain, has 164 yards and two TDs since his return.
RECEIVERS
Phoebus senior Reid Evans, a first-team All-Peninsula selection at both receiver and defensive back, has been Boyd's primary target all year long, hauling in 60 passes for 1,030 yards and 7 TDs. The 6-foot, 170-pounder caught just two passes for 15 yards in the first two playoff games as Phoebus went more to its running attack, but Evans broke loose for seven catches, 101 yards and a TD - and also added a pair of interceptions on defense - in last week's region title game.
Phoebus has additional threats in senior Jermando Towler and freshman Daquan Romero, who combined for 450 yards and 10 TDs in the regular season, as well as senior Darius McMillan, who caught a pair of TD passes in the region semifinals.
Stone Bridge's Ryan Moody has been Patrick Thompson's go-to guy all year, snaring 54 passes (just two shy of tying the school single-season record) for a school-record 989 yards and 15 TDs. Irwin has 21 catches for 363 yards and five TDs on the year, and he grabbed five passes for 76 yards and two scores last week against Edison. Gouveia is also a dangerous receiving threat, having caught 17 passes for 470 yards (team-high 27.7 average) and five TDs. He has just four catches in the last three games, but he turned one of those from a 30-yard completion into a state-record 99-yard TD with several outstanding moves along the sideline against Marshall two weeks ago.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The battle in the trenches should prove to be a good one on Saturday. Phoebus had four offensive linemen earn All-Peninsula honors, led by junior guard Dominik Davenport and junior tackle Charlie Jones. Davenport was also named the Peninsula District Defensive Player of the Year along the front line. For the season, Phoebus has averaged over 340 yards and nearly 37 points per game.
Stone Bridge is also strong up front behind first-team All-Liberty District selections Drew Guyer (center), Chris Simei (guard) and David Wang (tackle). The Bulldogs enter the weekend averaging 40.5 points and 384.5 yards (223.9 rushing, 160.5 passing) per game.
DEFENSE
Having never seen Phoebus play in person, it's hard to look much deeper than the numbers. Still, the numbers are impressive. The Phantoms have given up 161.5 yards and 8.2 points per game this year playing in one of the tougher districts in the state (six of the 10 Peninsula teams advanced to the playoffs this year). After giving up 274 total yards to Warwick in the quarterfinals, the Phoebus defense has clamped down the last two weeks, holding Hampton to 137 yards and Indian River to just 74 yards. Last week's shutout of Indian River gives Phoebus five in its last seven games (including four straight to end the regular season). The Phantoms have allowed just 15 points in three playoff games (that's 3 points per game).
Davenport, who has received offers from both Virginia Tech and UVA, is a force up front. McMillan was a first-team all-district pick at linebacker, while Evans was a first-team pick at three - count 'em three - spots (wide receiver, defensive back and punt returner).
Stone Bridge is equally impressive defensively, with a strong front line of first-team All-Liberty picks in Brian Slay (end), Jimmy Bradford (nose) and Zach Thompson (tackle). Mike Olson was a first-team selection at linebacker, while Gouveia added Liberty District Defensive Player of the Year honors to his already impressive resume. The Bulldogs have 22 interceptions and 14 fumble recoveries on the year, and in a game like this, forcing a key turnover may prove to be the difference.
SPECIAL TEAMS
With the eye-popping numbers these teams have posted all year, you might not think too much about the kicking game. But, again, in a game that looks this close on paper, this is an area that cannot be overlooked.
Both Phoebus and Stone Bridge have excellent place kickers in Matt Cole and Ronnie Shaban, respectively. Cole nailed seven field goals during the regular season and has won two games in his career on last-second attempts. He's also money on PATs, although Phoebus did have two extra point attempts blocked last week against Indian River.
Shaban's booming kickoffs have helped pin opponents deep to start drives, and he's 67-of-68 on PATs. He's also been solid on field goals, hitting from as far as 42 yards (twice) this year. Last week, he hit from 26 and 18.
Reid is a dangerous return man for Phoebus, while the Bulldogs have Irwin (10 punt returns for 138 yards and seven kickoff returns for 122 yards) and Moody (five KOR, 144 yards, one TD).
INTANGIBLES
Phoebus has an experienced group back from last year's state title team, and playing in big games in nothing new. It will be interesting to see if the long trip (195 miles, 3.5 hours) from Hampton (near Virginia Beach) has any ill effect.
Stone Bridge is only in its third year at the AAA level but has quickly proven it belongs in the discussion with the elite programs in the state. The Bulldogs are playing at home, where they are 10-2 all-time in the playoffs, and they are hungry. However, Stone Bridge is 1-2 in its three previous state semifinal appearances (0-2 at the AA level, 1-0 at the AAA level).
PREDICTIONS
I'm not bold enough to pick this one straight up, especially having never seen Phoebus play. Let's face it: you don't win 3 out of the last 6 state titles, nor do you come in riding a 20-game winning streak, unless you're an outstanding team. On the flip side, six straight region title appearances and a current 11-game winning streak by Stone Bridge says a lot as well. You can compare districts, opponents and all the numbers you want, but when you boil it down, these teams are two of the best in the state, they're both essentially 0-0 and the winner plays for the state title. It doesn't get much better than this.
Expect this game to be close, with both teams scratching and clawing for every yard. This one could very well be decided on one big play in any area - offense, defense or special teams. Hold on to your hats, because this one is going to be good.
